WSI for Collins and UPS-Aviation Technologies

Disclosures by WSI Corp (Weather Services International, Booth 1568) on the convention's inaugural day indicate that the company has signed deals with avionics manufacturers Rockwell Collins and UPS-Aviation Technologies.

Collins has selected the InFlight system to provide up-to-date weather briefings to aircraft equipped with its ProLine 21 flight deck displays. This "increases flight crew situational awareness and enhances their proactive decision-making ability," said Bryan Vester, senior marketing and development director at Collins Business and Regional Systems.

InFlight uses satellite technology to broadcast the most accurate, up-to-date weather information in near-term forecasts to any aircraft equipped with its special antenna and receiver. It builds on the strength of the widely used Pilotbrief system, recently voted number-one weather briefing service in Professional Pilot magazine's annual reader poll.

In the second announcement, InFlight will be integrated with the UPS-AT MX20 multifunction display, one of the best-selling products in the general aviation marketplace. The new version will be certified in time for deliveries to begin in the first quarter of next year and will be retrofittable at a cost of $150. MX20 is priced at $7,295, including VFR/IFR charts, airways, navaids, terrain mapping and option for overlay onto Jeppesen charts. WSI InFlight costs $4,995 plus a monthly subscription fee.

By Paul Jackson